Haematobiochemical effects of dexmedetomidine with and without butorphanol for propofol and ketamine anaesthesia in uraemic goats

Thirty two clinical cases of urolithiasis in young (2–6 months old) male goats of were divided into two major groups A and B, and divided further in four subgroups A1, A2, B1, and B2, having eight animals in each. Animals of subgroups A1 and B1 were premedicated with dexmedetomidine (2.5 μg/kg b.wt, i.v.), while in subgroups A2 and B2 dexmedetomidine (2.5 μg/kg b.wt, i.v.) and butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg b.wt, i.v.) were used intravenously. Induction of anaesthesia was achieved by propofol (1%) in subgroups A1 and A2 and ketamine (1%) in subgroups B1 and B2. Anaesthesia was maintained with Continuous Intravenous Infusion (CII) with 1% of the respective induction anaesthetic. Haemoglobin, PCV and TLC decreased in all the subgroups, without any significant difference among the subgroups. Significant neutrophilia was recorded in subgroup A2 and lymphocytopenia in A1 and A2. Increase in plasma urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine and plasma glucose were recorded in all the subgroups. It was concluded that both combinations incite only transient changes in the haematobiochemical parameters hence, can be used safely for surgical interventions in uraemic goats.